Education Is Not A Crime

Two amazing artists, Brandan "B Mike" Odums from New Orleans and Marthalicia Matarrita from Harlem, teamed up to paint this incredible double-mural of the American jazz legend John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie. Dizzy was an icon in Harlem – his plaque on the Harlem Walk of Fame is just across the street from this mural – and he was an outspoken Baha'i. He was born on October 21st, 1917, and this hundredth anniversary mural was a perfect addition to the Education Is Not A Crime story.

Apolo Torres’s São Paulo mural of a school girl reaching for books – and knowledge – with a snake at her heels is one of the most iconic and largest Education Is Not A Crime murals in the world.

Icy and Sot, sibling duo, are originally from Tabriz, Iran. They are famous in the Iranian urban art culture for their artistic accomplishments. They now live and work in Brooklyn, NY and continue to dismantle pre-conceived notions of Iranian tradition through their street art. Their work encompasses themes of human rights, justice, social and political causes. For #NotACrime, the artists have used their signature black and white stencils to depict imprisoned Iranian cartoonist Atena Farghadani with a backdrop of protesters, to show their support for freedom of expression in Iran.

For Brazilian artist Alexandre Keto, the marginalised Brazilians of African descent, are a key part of his art. He has always wanted to transform the lives of under-represented people and to try to create a community through his art. Alexandre has painted a wall on Frederick Douglass Blvd, depicting two women and a child under a baobab tree which symbolises knowledge and wisdom. The tree has the image of the Tehran University gates carved into its trunk resembling the barring of education for Bahai’s in Iran.

The beautiful Education Is Not A Crime mural at 126th Street, off Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, on the back of PS154, shows two women who are actually collages of different women to symbolise the oneness of humanity. And Elle's mural has the distinction of being emblazoned with the largest rendering of the campaign name – Education Is Not A Crime – across Harlem.

Nasim is a 29-year-old Iranian woman, an art student and photographer, and a Baha’i. The Australian artist Rone painted this portrait of her on the side of the Storefront Academy at Park Avenue and 129th Street in Harlem. Nasim was a student in the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education – the “underground university” that Baha’is created in Iran, because they’re banned from higher education – when, in 2009, Iran erupted into days of protests over the rigged reelection of then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Nasim was out taking photos when she was arrested and briefly detained by the authorities. She was held for a few days and government agents tried to force her to falsely confess that she and other Baha'is were responsible for the protests – she refused. Nasim was released but she decided to leave Iran. Today she is completing her art studies at UC San Diego.

Tatyana Fazlalizadeh is half Iranian and half African-American – while her portrait of a little girl learning to read is all heart. Fazlalizadeh's work is deeply engaged with social justice and she was a powerful addition to the Education Is Not A Crime project.

“Paragraphalyzer” by Fabian Williams; “Educate, Elevate, Empower” by Joe Dreher; “Watch me learn” by Charmaine Minniefield

Iranian-American artist Nicky Nodjoumi was exiled from Iran in 1979, for creating artwork that criticised the Shah’s regime. He currently lives in New York and has had his art exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum in London, amongst other prominent venues. His piece for #NotACrime depicts a pair of handcuffed hands with the words “Journalism Is Not A Crime”. His piece is located in Long Island City and is in support of the freedom of journalists in Iran.

Erik Burke – aka OverUnder – painted a mural of flowers surrounding a mother with her child. And arcing over the piece is his slogan "Education Is Your Shield and Trophy" – already a hit in the neighborhood. Burke's piece is on the back of PS154, at 126th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard, in the heart of Harlem.

Freddy Sam is a self-taught artist born in Johannesburg and now living in Cape Town. He is renown for his large scale murals which focus on bringing to light relevant social issues, exploring the nature of man in present society, in history and in nature. His achievements in public art have made it onto CNN, Mail & Guardian’s ‘200 young people in SA who make a difference’ and National Geographic’s list of ‘11 street art greats’ alongside the likes of Banksy.

The mural in Cape Town titled Our Gentle Hearts has captured the attention of city dwellers, poised amongst the buildings a photorealistic painting of a boy tending to an injured bird, the elegant text overlay reads:

OUR GENTLE HEARTS, FEEL MUCH AND KNOW LITTLE

The artist expands - 'this text is not only about the students who are denied education or those who deny basic human rights, but it is also referring to the rest of society, as in todays world we should not be so ignorant and stand by whilst crimes against humanity exist'.

Leonardo Smania Donanzan from Americana (State of São Paulo) has completed a lucid depiction of a young Baha'i student, he hopes that this work will serve as a constant warning against the prohibition of rights and any form of religious intolerance.

Acclaimed Polish street artist Sławek Czajkowski, also known as Zbiok, painted a mural for Journalism Is Not A Crime on Holywell Lane wall in Shoreditch, London, in support of the young Iranian cartoonist Atena Farghadani, who served 18 months in prison for drawing political cartoons. Zbiok’s piece was part of a worldwide movement of artists calling for Farghadani’s release. His mural, which was produced in and on display in 2015, was designed to explore the clash between political repression and the irrepressible search for truth.

Greek street artist Argiris Ser painted his mural “Sea of Knowledge” for the Education Is Not A Crime campaign in Shoreditch, London, in 2017. Set in his pop-surrealist world of "Popartia", the painting depicts a mother guiding and teaching her children on the open sea with a school house on her back. Ser’s work explores an alternative universe – a “mostly happy universe,” he says – to offer the public a different way of seeing the world.

Modelled after the famous gates of Tehran University in Iran, as well-known in that country as the dome of Columbia's library in the US, or the spires of Oxford in Europe, French artist Astro's trompe l'oeil mural in central Harlem has inspired passersby as a symbol of a path to light and hope amidst adversity.

Marthalicia Matarrita's delicate portrait of a young girl with the seeds of education and knowledge being planted in her mind is one of the most popular murals created for Education Is Not A Crime in Harlem.

Faith47 is a South African street artist whose career spans more than 15 years. Through her art, she explores global political aims and advance the expression of personal truth. Her work has been exhibited and installed all over the world. For #NotACrime, Faith47 painted a mural on Colombia and Woodhull Streets in Brooklyn depicting Atena Farghadani in a headscarf without a mouth. Farghadani, an Iranian artist and political activist is sentenced to 12 years in prison for drawing a politically motivated cartoon. Faith47 paints in support of freedom of journalists in Iran.

Italian artist Jacopo Ceccarelli, known as 2501, began graffiti at the age of 14. He went to the South American school of street art in Brazil where he formulated his artistic style – depicting nature through the abstract. His works have been exhibited all over the world including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Rome. For #NotACrime, 2501 painted a public mural on the corner of Lexington Avenue, depicting birds breaking free from a cage. His piece is in support of freedom for journalists in Iran.

Artists Marcelo Melo and Gustavo Amaral created this epic street painting on the pavement of the Atlantica, one of the busiest avenues in the city of Rio, Brazil.

The impressive large piece depicts a sapling growing out of a tree which has been destroyed, highlighting how the Baha'i community of Iran continues to seek knowledge despite the Iranian government's efforts to bar them from it.

In Salvador, the capital of the Brazilian state of Bahia the artist Eder Muniz (the calango) has painted a vivid and enchanting mural in defense of the Baha'is of Iran.

Lmnopi dedicated her Education Is Not A Crime mural to 11-year-old Marley Dias – the pioneering founder of the #1000BlackGirlBooks movement. Marley's story is an inspiring example of someone taking their education into their own hands and doing a service to other people. We thought it sounded a lot like the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education.

The Australian duo Krimsone & Scott Nagy's latest mural on Bondi Beach.

"Everybody should be free to go to school, to learn, to understand ... We need to take care of each other!" Alexandre Keto's Afro-fabulist mural at the PS7 school in East Harlem depicts a powerful mother figure watching over and educating her children in a lake. The fantastical setting is Keto's way of evoking many themes – education equality, care for the planet, and bridging communities of color and of suffering from around the world – in one piece.

TatsCru is one of the legendary graffiti squads from the 1970s in New York. They began in the Bronx – and today they travel all over the world for their art. The week before they painted this mural for Not A Crime, they were in China. Their contribution to the campaign is this joyous and colourful celebration of not only education but the home of the Not A Crime campaign – Harlem itself.

Argentinian artist Marina Zumi now lives in Brazil where she is one of the most prominent female street artists. She came to street art from a background in fashion design, which influences her colourful, unique style. Zumi has painted a wall on Frederick Douglass Blvd, depicting a gazelle whose eyes have been censored by a red line. The words "No Truth No Light" stand in striking white underneath an image of the gates of Tehran University. This work is painted in support of the freedom of education for the Baha’is in Iran.

Swiss artist Bustart joined the Not A Crime campaign with his monumental – four storeys tall – mural at the ABC school in Harlem. His picture of a schoolgirl with her toy tiger shows a series of drawings falling away. The drawings are copies of actual drawings by the children of the ABC school. And the fact that they're falling away represents the stolen dreams of young Iranian Baha'is denied their right to go to university by their own government.

American artist Ron English is known as ‘The Godfather of Street Art’. He coined the term ‘Popaganda’ to describe his work, which protests against society run by corporations, and also uncovers the truth behind the advertising of consumer products. English has done artwork for several famous musicians, has written seven books and created important pieces that reflect our society today such as the infamous ‘Abraham Obama’ painting for the 2008 Presidential Elections. For #NotACrime, English has painted his own version of the three wise monkeys with the message ‘see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil.’

Franco "the Great" Gaskin is a Harlem legend. He has painted murals and roll-down gates across the neighbourhood – especially on 125th Street – for 30 or 40 years. His piece for the Not A Crime campaign, a message of education equality for people of all backgrounds, was a landmark for the project; a local celebrity helping raise awareness about the persecution of the Baha'is in Iran.

Chilean artist El Cekis painted this African American boy’s face, in profile, housing blocks blended into his skin, poised between a tangle of bars behind him and greenery ahead. The boy is reading a book. The lines on the page – visible to anyone who walks by – are from a poem by the jailed Iranian Baha’i and educator Mahvash Sabet. “I began to wonder whether these confines really defined the limits of my self,” Sabet’s poem says, “And then I saw in the heart of the tower / In the middle of the road / From the dry earth’s blistered core / … A few leaves sprouting / Green and neat.” Sabet’s words were written inside Evin Prison in Iran. But when paired with the face of an African American boy on a mural in Harlem they ceased to be one person’s prison poem and became a symbol of the Not A Crime campaign.

Krimsone and Scott Nagy teamed up to create this colourful piece for the #NotACrime campaign. Krimsone is a Sydney based artist that practices in fine art as well as street art. With qualifications in printmaking and lots of experience with aerosol his work mixes high and lowbrow art together.

Scott Nagy's style shines through with his attention to detail and more surreal scenes and is combined with Krimsone's love of animals and vivid colour schemes. Their mural depicts that of the Persian national bird, the nightingale, it takes flight aided with study tools to push its momentum upwards and away. The grey strings of the government trap its wings and try to prevent its take off, impeding the right of education the national bird, and the people are unable to fly and soar.

See One wanted to paint a woman looking across to a bright orb – her education. And he wanted it to be colourful; to give a blank, monochrome wall a searing streak of colours, vibrant and bright and all flowing from the woman's hair. Look also at her ear – there's a pencil tucked behind and it's just a bit broken to evoke the dangers of being denied an education.

Col Wallnuts's distinctive colourful shapes, appearing on the side of a school, make up one of the campaign's largest murals in Harlem. And above a busy playground it blares its positive message to change the world.

Jason Woodside is an American artist and native to New York City. He attended the School of Visual Arts and has collaborated with Adidas, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Obey Clothing amongst others. His piece is painted on Frederick Douglass Blvd with his signature colours that mark his work. His piece is in support of access to education for Baha’is in Iran.

Carolina-born street artist Patch Whisky has a signature creature – he calls her Daisy. Patch created a special Reading Daisy – at 120th Street and 3rd Avenue – for the Not A Crime campaign. Daisy is reading a forbidden book of knowledge – notice the lock, which she was able to unlock thanks to finding the key – and so she's a perfect icon for striving to gain an education despite whatever obstacles or injustices.

American artist David Torres, also known as Rabi, is part of an art duo called Cyrcle. His artwork focuses on life and the human condition. His piece for #NotACrime is of a ruler broken in half with the words “Made In Iran,” to depict a shattered education system. His piece is in the Nelson Mandela memorial garden and is in support of access to education for Baha’is in Iran.

Brooklyn based duo, ASVP began working together in 2007. Their art is a combination of multi-layered graphics with a mix of Eastern and Western imagery and bright, bold colours. They also use comic and pop culture graphics to satirise the advertising industry. For #NotACrime, the duo are creating a mural of a pencil with spikes along the shaft to depict the restriction of access to education for Baha’is in Iran.

Camo is a Sydney based street artist. He started tagging buses when he was about 14 and now he mainly creates street art with stencils. He enjoys painting outdoors to add colour to the streets. He likes the idea of making someone smile on their walk to work. For the #NotACrime Campaign, Camo painted a pile of books chained together to depict how knowledge is locked out of reach of Baha'i students.

The top book has the acronym 'BIHE' which stands for Baha'i Institute of Higher Education, the underground organisation comprised of professors and students who conduct their lectures in peoples' homes, usually over Skype. Next to the books is a disheartened youth staring at the ground.

Dave the Chimp created a playful mural at the Village Underground street art wall on Holywell Lane in Shoreditch. The British artist and illustrator based in Berlin painted his depiction of human “beans” parading placards with positive slogans as a major contribution to the #NotACrime campaign focusing specifically on the persecution of Iran’s Baha’i religious minority.

Dave the Chimp’s work mixes cute and childlike styling with political messages. He began painting at least ten years ago and is influenced by skateboard culture and the urban landscape. His work can be identified by his positive messages and has appeared on the streets, in galleries and in publication across Europe.

Artists kennardphillipps are renowned for addressing social and political issues in their work and are known for the acclaimed image of Tony Blair’s ‘selfie’ Photo Op. In a statement released by the duo they explain:

'The repression of Baha’is in Iran has come to our attention through this project. Highlighting injustices around the world is central to what we do in our work. We hope this huge image in London will encourage people to look at this issue of persecution.'

Location: Holywell Lane, Shoreditch (artwork is no longer on display).